Right way to clear a wooded lot?

   / Right way to clear a wooded lot? #1  

kubotal3130

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Need to clear about a 1/2 acre wooded lot. Have a Kubota L3130 with backhoe. Need to clear the lot quickly. Want to hall the bigger tree's about 150 yds away and then cut up later. What is the best way to move these trees. Drag from backhoe, 3pt hitch, pulling bar? I am thinking pulling bar but would like to get the tractor end of the trees up of the ground. Any recommendations.......what is the realistic amount of tree length I can haul. Thanks
 
   / Right way to clear a wooded lot? #2  
I'd take the tree from a draw bar on the 3 pt. Raise it abit off the ground and off you go-slowly. You should have little trouble dragging out a 14"-16" butt that is 16-20' long. The top of the tree will come out easier. You do not say what type of tree you are cutting or their size. My reference is to what I cut and that would be oak. The most my 20 hp 3000Ib tractor will pull out in one shot is about a 40-50' tall oak that is 12" at the butt. Much will depend on tractive capabilities, tire type ( although there are guys on this forum who'll use turf tires with little problem) terrain, etc.
 
   / Right way to clear a wooded lot?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
All different size trees. Avg 10-12" at base. I have the R1 tires. How do I hook the chain. I have read some articles that say to be careful pulling from 3pt bar. Most of the trees are in a wet area. Hoping to winch them out with 4 wheeler to dry ground and then pull with tractor. You think a 4 wheeler could winch a 20' tree 10" at the base?
 
   / Right way to clear a wooded lot? #4  
I use my 3130 all the time to haul trunks around. Use a chain w/ a slip hook on one end. Slide the chain under the log and let the slip hook tighten around it as you lift w/ 3 point hitch. while it's in the air you could hook another chain to drawbar and lower 3 pt so trunk is still off the ground. Go slow and feel it out...
 
   / Right way to clear a wooded lot?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
John, I like the way that sounds but I am a little confused. Would I be pulling from the horizontal bar on the 3 pt hitch or the draw bar underneath, or Both?
 
   / Right way to clear a wooded lot? #6  
A couple of fellows here have built attachments for the three point hitch to tow stuff with. Ones name is Lloyd.

Picture of hitch attached.
 

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   / Right way to clear a wooded lot? #7  
John, I like the way that sounds but I am a little confused. Would I be pulling from the horizontal bar on the 3 pt hitch or the draw bar underneath, or Both?

You could lower the 3Pt while hooked to drawbar and if you have no slack you can pull from the drawbar with the nose of the log still in the air. Egon posted a pic of what a lot of people are using to skid logs. The key here is whichever method you use.... Go Sloooow...And use common sense....
 
   / Right way to clear a wooded lot?
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I like the picture of the log puller. My dad is a welder. Going to try to make one this weekend. I think I would like to lower the pull hooks on the frame. Am I being to paranoid about pulling over the tractor? Would like to keep the pull weight as low on the tractor as possible. Great idea though! Thanks
 
   / Right way to clear a wooded lot? #10  
The lower your log is to the ground the less likely it will tip up your front end. However the lower your log is to the ground the more friction produced and higher chance the nose will snag on something. Also a dirtier log. Just go slow and experiment and you will find your balance. An old car hood over the nose can help with ground friction.

Don't know how useful your 4 wheeler would be for winching unless you chain it to a tree. I use a logging winch on a Kubota 4400 and need to bury both the winch blade and the loader bucket to keep the tractor stationary while pulling a subborn stem.
 
 
 
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